Optical detection of middle ear effusion and infection

Abstract

An optical detection system for diagnosis of ear conditions includes a first light source that emits light of a first wavelength and a second light source that emits light of a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength. An imaging device is positioned proximate to the first light source and the second light source. The imaging device is sized to fit within an ear canal of a patient to capture one or more images within an ear of the patient. A processor is in communication with the imaging device and configured to analyze the one or more images to identify a laser speckle pattern in the one or more images and determine a diagnosis for the patient based at least in part on the laser speckle pattern identified in the one or more images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical detection system for diagnosis of ear conditions, the system comprising:
 a first light source that emits light of a first wavelength;   a second light source that emits light of a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength;   an imaging device positioned proximate to the first light source and the second light source, wherein the imaging device is sized to fit within an ear canal of a patient to capture one or more images within an ear of the patient; and   a processor in communication with the imaging device, wherein the processor is configured to:
 analyze the one or more images to identify a laser speckle pattern in the one or more images; and 
 determine a diagnosis for the patient based at least in part on the laser speckle pattern identified in the one or more images. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more images include a tympanic membrane of the patient, and wherein the laser speckle pattern is on the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first light source emits white light. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second light source emits light within a low-mid portion of the visible spectrum of light such that the second wavelength of the light is between 450 nanometers and 700 nanometers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first light source comprises a light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first light source comprises a pair of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second light source comprises a laser diode. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnosis is that the patient has middle ear effusion with otitis media present or that the patient has middle ear effusion without otitis media present. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnosis is that the patient has otitis media with middle ear effusion present or that the patient has otitis media without middle ear effusion present. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor analyzes the one or more image to determine a speckle contrast of the laser speckle pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert responsive to the diagnosis being indicative of otitis media or middle ear effusion. 
     
     
         12 . A method of diagnosing ear conditions, the method comprising:
 illuminating an ear canal of a patient with a first light source that emits light of a first wavelength and a second light source that emits light of a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength;   capturing, by an imaging device positioned proximate to the first light source and the second light source, one or more images within an ear of the patient; and   analyzing, by a processor in communication with the imaging device, the one or more images to identify a laser speckle pattern in the one or more images; and   determining, by the processor, a diagnosis for the patient based at least in part on the laser speckle pattern identified in the one or more images.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first light source comprises a pair of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second light source comprises a laser diode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second wavelength of light emitted by the second light source is between 450 nanometers and 700 nanometers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the diagnosis is that the patient has middle ear effusion with otitis media present or that the patient has middle ear effusion without otitis media present. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the diagnosis is that the patient has otitis media with middle ear effusion present or that the patient has otitis media without middle ear effusion present. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein analyzing the one or more images includes determining a speckle contrast of the laser speckle pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more images include a tympanic membrane of the patient, and wherein the laser speckle pattern represents an amount of blood flow through the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating, by the processor, an alert responsive to the diagnosis being indicative of otitis media or middle ear effusion.